On the 21st day of August, 2017, the moon will slide between the Earth and the sun, painting a swath of darkness across North America. The Great American Solar Eclipse.
Subscribe on YouTube: http://bit.ly/U8Ys7n
An exercise in cosmic geometry. A reminder that we live on one sphere among many, all moving to the laws of Kepler, Newton and Einstein. The moon’s orbit around the Earth is slightly tilted, so the shadow of the new moon usually passes above or below us. About twice a year, the three bodies briefly align, and the moon’s long shadow cuts across our planet. The day dies and is reborn. The sun is replaced by an inky hole, feathered with the pale corona, a million degrees hotter than the sun itself. Staring up into the cone of blackness you can feel the cosmic gears grinding. Two minutes of beauty and terror.
—————————————————————
Want more from The New York Times?
Watch more videos at: http://nytimes.com/video
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nytvideo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nytvideo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nytvideo
Whether it’s reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It’s all the news that’s fit to watch. On YouTube.
[Video Title]
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNewYorkTimes